Corbett, Edward. The Rhetoric of Blair, Campbell, and Whately
We can understand Blair, Campbell, and Whately in the context of response to the main rhetorical doctrines from ancient Greece to early eighteenth century England.
British Rhetoric/Scotland/rise of politics, upward mobility, weakening nobility. Rise of capitalism. Good people speaking and writing well.
Widely accessible
“They were the first rhetoricians of modern rhetoric anticipating present day speech theory, and appreciating multi-disciplinary nature of communication”
Directly influenced us—Blair’s lectures on courses combining reading, writing, speaking, listening. Campbell’s discussions of ends of discourse to the themed papers we assign.
Concerned with what Ramus had relegated to rhetoric—style and eloquence
Not necessarily a bad thing because was used to give standing to the emerging gentry (upper classes) wider education. Though often dismissed
Blair Lectures on Rhetoric and Belles Lettres 1738 concerned with taste and style, some public speaking
Campbell The Philosophy of Rhetoric 1776 concerned with wit, humor, eloquence, grammar, sources of evidence –more to logic than the others.
Campbell – Rhetoric must address all the mind’s faculties (will, passion, Imagination, Understanding) “all ends of speaking are reducible to four; every speech being intended to enlighten the understanding, to please the imagination, to move the passions, or to influence the will”
For Campbell, reasoning is a natural part of rhetoric. Rhetoric begins with the search for truth and then proceeds to persuasion, the attempt to move the will to ethical action. Two stages of persuasion - “excite some desire or passion in the hearers and then satisfy their judgment that there is a connection between the action to which he would persuade them and the gratification of the desire or passion which he excites”
Campbell “principle of correct usage:” reputable (educated accepted), national (most understood throughout country), present(not obsolete)
Campbell – sole and ultimate end of logic is the eviction of truth; one important end of eloquence though, …is the conviction of the hearers.
Whately Elements of Rhetoric 1828 invention, arrangement, introduction of propositions and arguments. Elocution.
Whatley acknowledges Campbell but makes fine distinctions among the varieties of moral evidence – sets up system for effective arguments (system not unlike Aristotle’s). Focuses on argument from testimony and probability.
Whatley – “progressive approach to truth” – like Campbell believes that much scientific knowledge is based on same kind of reasoning as moral knowledge and that linear demonstrations of causality do not constitute the whole of logic. Causal demonstration, moreover, is not appropriate to arguments about most of life’s affairs. Rhetoric’s province is to argue for truths found outside of cause demonstration.
Corbett says rhetoric declines in early 18th C. England. They are primarily concerned with elocution and considerations of differences between reading and speaking—they move towards silent reading—we are loosing oration.
Hugh, Blar, and Whately make the triumvirate of British rhetoricians in the classical sense.
The bridge the span between classical sense and modern period(new rhetoric). They signify the end of one and the beginning of the other, though they are in the former.
Reread intro to this book as has excellent summing up of ancients.
Traces four major responses to classical rhet that happened in 1st half of 18th C. 1. Uncritical acceptance of ancient doctrines. 2. The singling out by the elocutionists of the canon of delivery as the most defensible and urgently in need in speech training. 3. The uniting of rhetoric and belles letters to form a broader view of written and oral communication. 4. The grounding of all human knowledge, including rhetoric in human nature.
How did these three respond? First they endorsed some classical rhetorical theories but modified and rejected others. They argued that no one can succeed as a speaker, writer, or critic unless he is acquainted with the ancient authors. Blair recommends authors, Campbell specific works.
Campbell claims to have read everything written in English or French and that anything of value is simply copied from Aristotle, Cicero, and Quintilian. Ancient worship.
Cambell, Blair, Whately -- All three accepted the classical communication model which focused on the speaker, speech, and audience. All three recognized that effective ethical, logical, and emotional proof are essential to persuasion. All felt that a well organized address should have interest, unity, coherence, and progression. All held that style should be characterized by perspicuity and vividness. And above all, they suggested that while nature endows the orator with special talents, nurture or training is needed to improve or perfect those inborn traits (Q)
However, they deviated sharply form Aristotle, Cicero and Quintilian in several important respects. 1. Campbell did not attempt to present an elaborate analysis of the five canons of rhet, instead focused on Locke’s accusations of rhet as an instrument of error and deceit. Blair likewise wanted to construct a system not based on speaking but also to become an effective writer and critic in a broad field of literature. Whately, limited to argumentative composition, generally and exclusively.
All see rhetoric as not limited to persuasion but including appeal to understanding.
Blair’s appreciation for art and derivation from correctness seems pre-Romantic. Blair refused to be identified with one school of work—looks like that did not succeed.
Blair calls for liberal ed to make able to speak on various subjects (echoes?Q )
Corbett, Edward. The Rhetoric of Blair, Campbell, and Whately